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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

<h2><strong>Why stay?</strong></h2>
<p>For the sheer extravagance of it all. This is the most expensive hotel in <a href="https://destinasian.com/luxury-travel/spotlight/discover-macau" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Macau</a> by a large margin with all the luxury accoutrements you might expect—lavish suites, Michelin-worthy cuisine, a 40-meter infinity pool, intuitive service—and so much more.</p>
<h3><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h3>
<p>Set on the Cotai Strip, Raffles forms part of an expansive Galaxy casino complex which currently includes eight hotels, with a ninth—Capella Macau—expected to open in 2025. All of the hotels share the buzzy Galaxy facilities, which includes an astonishing 120 restaurants, more than 200 shops, a concert arena, a multiplex cinema and the <a href="https://www.galaxymacau.com/grand-resort-deck/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grand Resort Deck</a>—home to numerous swimming pools, a wave pool, a waterslide mountain, a lazy river and a white sand beach. Complimentary shuttle buses operate every 10 to 30 minutes between the hotels, the ferry terminals, the airport, and old town.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-140840 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-at-Galaxy-Macau-Deluxe-Suite-Living-Room.jpg" alt="Raffles at Galaxy Macau - Deluxe Suite - Living Room" width="1200" height="800" /></p>
<h4><strong>The feel</strong></h4>
<p>At a discreet ground-level entrance aside the Galaxy casino and mall, guests are greeted with bouquets of flowers and whisked upstairs in the blink of an eye. The triple-height lobby is a grand theatrical space, where crimson velvet curtains are pulled back to reveal an extravagance of luminous white Statuario marble and a colossal chandelier fashioned from more than 500,000 crystals, under which a pianist and violinist perform Debussy. The atmosphere is calm, rarified but far from dull, with well-dressed clientele hob-nobbing over afternoon tea, power lunches, and evening cocktails.</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>The largest all-suite Raffles in the world has 450 suites, ranging from duplexes overlooking the resort deck to two-bedroom sky pads with eye-popping city views and faux fireplaces, to fabulous three-bedroom affairs with sun terraces, Jacuzzis, and private swimming pools. A hyper-personalized approach makes every guest feel “only-child special” (to paraphrase White Lotus’ Armond). Everything that can be be monogrammed has been monogrammed—bathrobes, slippers, towels, face cloths, pillowcases, wooden hangers, and even the glassware that accompanies the complimentary decanter of Macau’s version of the Singapore Sling. Meanwhile, deep dives by the guest relations team undercover everyone’s favorite things, which are then translated into surprise gifts that might include a bottle of Chanel perfume, Truefitt &amp; Hill shaving products, or Aesop shampoo for your precious Pekingese dog.</p>
<h6><strong>Food and drink</strong></h6>
<p>Adding to Galaxy’s collection of Michelin-starred restaurants, including Italian stalwart 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana and lauded Sichuan restaurant Feng Wei Ju, is <a href="https://www.raffles.com/macau/dining/Sushi-Kissho-by-Miyakawa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sushi Kissho</a>. Helmed by celebrated Japanese chef Masaaki Miyakawa (one of only six sushi masters to have attained three Michelin stars), the serene stone and cypress wood space has seating for just 10 dinner guests. The menu is omakase, with dishes such as seared alfonsino snapper with Shizuoka Mountain wasabi and <em>kohada</em> with homemade shrimp powder prepared before your eyes. In typical Raffles style, afternoon tea is served in the lobby lounge, where you’ll also find a selection of beautifully prepared classic French dishes. Later, follow a series of clues to reach the <a href="https://destinasian.com/nightlife-long-bar-at-raffles-at-galaxy-macau" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Long Bar</a>, the first Raffles speakeasy, where you can try Macau’s take on the classic Singapore Sling among other predilections.</p>
<p><strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-140835 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Raffles-at-Galaxy-Macau-Sushi-Kissho.jpg" alt="Raffles at Galaxy Macau - Sushi Kissho" width="1200" height="800" /></strong></p>
<h6><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h6>
<p>The hotel has a 40-meter infinity pool flanked with sun loungers and cabanas stocked with complimentary massage neck pillows, SPF50 sun cream, Evian face mists, chilled coconut water, and cold towels. Raffles has big plans for the spa involving a never-been-done-before collaboration, but it hasn’t arrived yet. In the meantime, guests can take advantage of the facilities at the neighboring Banyan Tree Macau, which has vast treatment rooms with indoor gardens and waterfalls, and an extensive menu of scrubs, wraps, massages, facials, and hours-long wellness rituals.</p>
<h6><strong>Family matters</strong></h6>
<p>High rollers don’t tend to have children in tow, but little ones are welcome and are treated to special amenities such as mini-bathrobes and slippers (monogrammed, of course) and a backpack stuffed with games and a plush toy peacock. All Galaxy hotel guests also have access to Galaxy Kidz, which includes an “edutainment” center and treasure hunts.</p>
<h6><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h6>
<p>This is a gigantic air-conditioned concrete and glass building but sustainability measures include the use of bamboo and cornstarch toothbrushes, razors, and combs; refillable toiletries; bamboo keycards; and electric shuttle buses. Seafood is sustainably sourced and wine bottles are upcycled into fancy Raffles branded candles. More could be done on this front.<strong> </strong></p>
<h6><strong>What else?</strong></h6>
<p>Another unique facet of Raffles Macau is its gaming area, which alongside blackjack and baccarat tables has a 24-hour break-out space, with a round-the-clock Chinese restaurant, a billiards table, a golf simulator, two bowling alleys, and a screening room (Galaxy has its own cinema, so guests can watch any movie they like as long as it has been released).</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>Lee Cobaj</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.raffles.com/macau/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raffles.com/macau</a><br />
+853 8886 3388<br />
<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/JxgFwve5ZYBrSLR9A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Estrada da Baía de Nossa Senhora da Esperança s/n, Cotai, Macau</a></p>


Raffles at Galaxy Macau - Raffles Lounge & Terrace

Raffles at Galaxy Macau

Macau Hotels